glocksuke | Summer Festival in the MGU

Summer Festival in the MGU

Wherever you are, whoever you are, one minute you’re at home minding your own business and the next you’ll see a shower of sparkles before you blink and find yourself teleported elsewhere.

The elsewhere, it seems, is an open grounds lined with stalls, pathways and gardens. Lanterns light up the pathways in soft glowing oranges and pinks, and even though it’s evening the weather is warm and enjoyable for a fun summer festival.

As you set off to explore, you’ll find that there are countless stalls with every type of treat you can imagine from a variety of cultures (including some from your own home worlds, strangely), all of which smell delicious and enticing. There are other stalls available with different carnival games as well. Go ahead and give it your all! Win a prize for that special someone, or just keep trying out of sheer stubbornness. Other stalls seem to be selling wares such as clothing, household items, flowers, and other things that can be given away as gifts. It seems that every time you look around, a new stall opens, almost as if this festival is responding to your every wish.

Speaking of wishes, there’s a small cluster of bamboo trees nearby as well, tables set up with baskets of arts and crafts supplies to write your wishes on the colorful paper and tie them to a branch. It’s a sweet thought, no?

And of course, what’s a festival without fireworks? Every now and then fireworks will light up the night sky, bursts of color in fun shapes such as stars, hearts, faces of people you know, whatever! Sparklers and bubble wands can also be found to play with throughout the evening near the viewing gardens. Flowers bloom and cover the area, though the paths lead to several small alcove-like areas and gazebos for those of you who wish to have a little romantic privacy. No matter where you are though, you’ll always be able to see the starry night sky.

Do try to play along and enjoy yourself for the evening. It’s only when the last firework bursts several hours later that you can actually leave anyway. Have fun!

[ooc: you know the drill, past mg characters from any of our past games, please don't make me list them again but go nuts.]

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[it's truly what sora deserves, so it's fine. but he's dancing around the subject still, grinning a little more when he hears riku say that because sometimes you really do like hearing that your friends are still your very important friends. (sometimes it's very helpful when you haven't seen them for so long.)

nevertheless, he's about to say something else about the importance of their friendship and all of that sappy, heartful junk but riku's suddenly interlocking their fingers and he's easily letting himself be tugged forward.]

Good. [to meeting riku's boyfriends? to the fact he and kairi still make riku happy? yes. and maybe it's why riku gets away with pinching his face and there's a startled "ow!" as he tries to pull away. it doesn't even hurt? it's totally reflexive, and he's using the cotton candy hand to try and push riku off.]

Quit it. [swatting!! but he does have enough grace to look slightly sheepish about it.] Anyway...it's the same thing. Clementine's important to me like yours are important to you. It just sort of happened.

[Even when Sora starts flailing, he keeps pinching and pulling that cheek! He probably pinches a little harder for a second, too! To make a point. But he doesn't want Sora to shove sticky cotton candy fingers in his face, so he lets go.]

So you're dating.

[It's not a question. :|

Very quickly, Riku looks incredibly put-out!] Sora. Why didn't you say anything?! [WHY WAS HE MADE TO SAY EVERYTHING FIRST WHEN SORA COULD HAVE EASILY HELPED HIM LEAD INTO IT.

DAMMIT!]

[riku would deserve to have sora's cotton candy fingers in his face, but luckily he's smart and pulls back. sora, meanwhile, looks fairly nonplussed about this and shrugs.]

I didn't want to stop you from saying what you were trying to say. I was gonna tell you about Clem after that. [he was helping (no.)] But yeah. We're dating. It was sort of something we decided in the last week or two before we won our game.

[Tch. Sora out here thinking he's sly.

Riku just makes a bit of a face briefly. Not about Clem. Just about Sora purposefully keeping things to himself until he's spilled his heart first.]

...Us, too.

[Deciding in the last week or two, he means. This at least--relieves him some? To know Sora gave it some thought and time. (Even if he's not sure how Sora's timeline of Riku would react. He's hoping he's mature by then? Please?) That Sora... really didn't cast him and Kairi aside. Speaking of...]

Kairi really is going to kick the two of us to the curb, huh? [Someone please get Kairi a girlfriend, I'm begging.] Are you happy...? With Clementine.

[#friendship. but in a way...it's kind of nice to actually say it and know that it really doesn't change much? (kairi's a different story and sora's aware, but it's something to work out someday when he gets home. maybe...things will be easier than they sound.)

but he seems a little interested in that even if he doesn't comment much in order to actually reply to riku before he kicks his butt for stalling.]

Yup. But I think she'll just be happy for us, too. [tell zia to play her and give her a gf. there's a nod though.]

...I'm really happy with her. She always made me feel better when things seemed at their worst back in the Realm. And I want to think I made things better for her, too.

[them all meeting in crau2 and spider-man pointing at each other]

Mm.

[The hint of a small touches the corner of his lips. He's not any different than Sora. The happiness comes first, even over the healed sore spot he use to have about Sora and being replaced. He gets it now. Sora wouldn't replace him and Kairi like that.]

I'm glad you had people who cared about you while you were there. That you didn't have to do it alone. I know how you always are about doing everything yourself to help everyone else.

[hate that.

but also yeah, riku, you big dummy. sora would never replace riku or kairi even if he has other people he cares about on a similar level. he has enough room to care about all of them, but his two best friends will always be the priority. that's how it's always been. everything he's ever done up until this point has been about getting back home to be with them again someday.

so it's nice to know that riku's okay with it.]

Yeah, well...[he doesn't have an excuse, scratching his cheek awkwardly.] All of us had to work together to fix it. I had a few teams I was counting on and everything, but they were counting on me, too. Everybody made it out okay though and we got the chance to stay in touch even after we left.

Us, too. [He's glad Sora can keep in touch with his friends? And he wonders when he started noticing how sentimental he was...] Sora.

[This is said in a way like he plans to add something onto it, but he is uncertainly quiet for a long moment. Just, uh, you know... standing here... lookin at your best friend...... holding their hand...]

...I'm glad.

[Well, he can start by being honest first of all. Honest and happy for Sora who receives the kind of love he puts in.]

I wouldn't have doubted you couldn't do it. Somehow, you always manage to find a way to make everything okay.

[he hears the tone and he turns his head, giving riku his undivided attention for a moment. the follow-up doesn't come right away and he tilts his head, waiting patiently for him to continue even as riku's just...you know. staring. holding his hand. as you do.

but then he says that and the response is a brighter grin. (how else would he respond?) granted the idea that he always manages to find a way is a little uncertain right now, but riku doesn't need to know. honesty begets honesty, but only the parts he thinks won't worry his friends.]

I wanted to make sure I'd make it back to you and Kairi. Even with the friends I made...and even with Clementine, that was the only thing that mattered after a while. I wanted us to be together again someday.

[even if he's in the abyss right now, he couldn't exactly fix things if he died somewhere else.]

[Riku is truly a few minutes and a few words away from getting to kick Sora's damn ass. Lup is really going to have something to whap him about shortly.]

I know. [Not only because this sounds very much like Sora, but...] I felt the same way, too.

[It's embarrassing how much he actually talked about Sora and Kairi the whole time during the school. Even when he didn't remember who he was, he still talked too often about the boy and girl from the beach.

Help them not be glued to each other's hips.]

I couldn't leave you in the darkness. I wasn't going to do that.

[he deserves it. "which one?" yes. nevertheless, sora seems to ponder on that because...well. it's nice. you know for some stupid reason he's really never going to get over the part where his friends care about him and think about him and it's probably for really sappy reasons that he doesn't want to talk about.

sometimes you meet your best friends when you're four years old and you never want to replace them. it's fine.]

You wouldn't have. I don't know everything that happened at that school, but you always would've come back. [there he goes, thinking the best of riku as always. there's another lingering pause though.] ...do you...want to know what happens? We're not supposed to mess with the world order, but...

[for riku's peace of mind, he's willing to once again say "fuck the world order."]

[World Order is the first thing he thinks immediately about because he's Riku, not Sora. He's the over-thinker, the one who is always worrying about making mistakes.

His lips part, but before he answers, he looks away uncertainly for a moment. Of course he wants to know what happens. He's worried about Sora. He's worried Sora is hiding something from him in the way of trying to shoulder it alone. He's worried... about their world, about Kairi, about the King.

He's also worried knowing will deteriorate his own trajectory through time.

Finally, he glances back hesitantly at his friend, squinting like he might be able to parse whatever Sora will tell him without making Sora do it.] Sora... [Said in the very Riku way of "Are we even sure about this?" since there have been plenty of times he thought he was sure, did it, and then realized he fucked up. It haunts him.]

...Just tell me... are you okay?

[that's actually the worst question riku could ask him, because he knows he can't get away with lying about it. also, it's a hard question! it's very hard, and he looks down briefly for support from meow wow who has wobbled off in his time of need.

what should he even say...? riku's from some time in the past that he's worried about. he should ease his mind over those worries first.]

We got out of the darkness. [he doesn't explain how, but that's important. and he pauses again to think.

he's physically probably fine. mentally and emotionally, eh, it's just the price to pay to make sure everyone else is safe and he still after all this time regrets nothing. especially if what he experienced is true and that guy will try to run tests on their own worlds. if his heart is in the same place as sora's...what does that mean?

he's taking too long to answer, so he shrugs.]

I'm fine. I'll be okay.

[Great. Just great! Hearing they got out of the darkness is a relief he can only appreciate for about two seconds!

Now he gets to go back to his continuum and worry non-stop about Sora (as if he doesn't do this already) because he learned from Sora's future self through omission that things AREN'T OKAY. He knows better. He KNOWS better. His hand tightens around Sora's.]

What happened?

[He knows Sora knows he's onto him. There isn't any point in calling Sora out really. Might as well just dive right into the whys or the hows.]

[oh. well, now he's in trouble. he doesn't do anything to pull back from riku's grip or the like but he does frown a little in response.]

How much do you really want to know? [and then, just to clarify:] Things worked out the way we needed them to, and everybody's okay.

[Sora's reassurance doesn't get him to stop frowning at all, and Sora obviously knows why it wouldn't.]

Everybody else?

[Because that's good. That's fine. He also cares about other people, too. He wants to protect his friends, the worlds. But... "everybody's okay" is not "we're okay" in the slightest.]

Didn't you get something from the game you played? Like... a promise, or a wish, or an opportunity. Why didn't you change it? [He sighs.] Just... tell me what happens.

[Can Riku change Sora's fate? He doesn't know. Is he going to TRY? Probably.]

No. Our team lost. Only the Rabbits won and got to pick prizes for whatever they wanted. [he says this plainly like it doesn't necessarily bother him.]

What was I supposed to do? That guy in the coat said we're in the same place...so if I went back, maybe I'll find him again and I can stop him before he starts messing with everything else.

[this doesn't explain what happened, but it gives context to why.]

[SORA!!! HIS ANSWERS!!!

Will Riku ever smile again? He's frowning! Sora had a similar endeavor they did in a way. What is it with all of these games thinking they can just yank them away and make it fine by offering some kind of reward?]

"I"? Are you trying to do it all alone, Sora?

[He's about to kick this boy's ass. FURTHERMORE.]

You still didn't tell me what happened.

[BINCH HOW DO YOU THINK HE FELT FOR LIKE THREE GAMES.

anyway. wow! this is a great friend date, sora loves absolutely crushing riku's spirit in his bare hands. speaking of hand, his grip tightens just a little at that.]

I don't really have another choice, but I'm sure you guys are doing stuff on your side, too. [...] Does the Power of Waking mean anything to you yet?

Sora...

[WOW, he really doesn't like the idea behind Sora not having any other choice! (riku voice) well clearly you're fucking DEAD!!! Please, he's begging you to not be a shounen protag for two minutes.

The puppycat may have abandoned Sora, but Komory is still here to whine and droop like it understands the weight of the conversation.

His eyes glance very briefly at their hands when Sora squeezes his before looking up again.]

You mean waking sleeping worlds?

[NO THE BAT....BABY....sora's using his other hand to try and pet komory.]

Not just for sleeping worlds. It's for waking sleeping hearts. You and me...when we took the Mark of Mastery exam, that's what we were supposed to learn. We both learned it, but...I lost it before the exam was over.

[Sora is spoiled, so obviously Komory allows this petting, especially when it is distressed because SORA IS CLEARLY HIDING BAD THINGS. :unamused: It gives a chirrup coo.

On the other hand, Riku is frowning as usual.]

You... lost it.

[It's not asked as a question, but there is a very pointed way he delivers it that means he wants Sora to explain.]

[thank you komory, at least you aren't frowning at him (much.) pets for the bat. it's also a good distraction when riku prompts him to continue.]

...the darkness...it was inside of me. I almost lost to it, but you saved me. [there's a grin then, more subdued than usual but still very happy.] I failed the exam, but you passed.

[(riku voice) NO

To say Riku's face drops is an understatement. It feels like any last little bit of hope in him shrivels up and whines pathetically as it dies. The darkness was inside of Sora?! Sora almost lost?!

This shocks him. Sora? His Sora? NO, DON'T YOU START SMILING. Ooooooo, he hates that.]

...Sora.

[:sob: He doesn't want this victory knowing Sora, of all people, had a loss. But also... what does he really say to that? The look on his face softens.]

Darkness can be places you'd never expect to find it. But I wouldn't ever let anything happen to you. You can... always re-take the exam.

[wow. wonder why he didn't want to tell riku!!! he watches the change in his face immediately and he immediately tries to figure out a way to do the damage control.]

It's okay. I'm okay. We're okay. [...mostly.] You deserved the title, you know? I knew you'd never let me down and I was...just glad you were safe.

[...] That was a little while ago though. I haven't re-taken the exam or anything but I relearned how to use the power of waking. Both of us needed to master it so we could save some of the others.

[something occurs to him then. sora was so young back then that he barely remembers things, but riku...maybe...]

Do the names Terra and Aqua mean anything to you? Or Ventus...?

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